Notes:
- Sequel to the fics For You, In The Daylight and Without You. You can read all of them here.
Kamilah
The road back to New York never seemed so long before. Even at the maximum speed, those miles that separated Amy's hometown from Raines Corporation appeared to be endless.
Kamilah's heart was thundering inside her chest. Only 24 hours earlier she was planning how they'd celebrate their first wedding anniversary and picking the most perfect gift, one to make Amy smile ear to ear. She had just given her what she wanted the most. The one thing she begged for several times before and Kamilah always denied her.
Part of her felt an intense happiness. When Amy woke up as a vampire, they'd have the eternity for themselves. There was no Gaius, no sickness, no death to separate them anymore. They had beaten the 'til death do us part. Death had brought them even closer.
The other part of her feared her wife would change. That she'd wake up with the cold, distant and aggressive behavior she exhibited back in their apartment. Or that her pure, cheerful and loving personality would be corrupted. She didn't want Amy to live the same experiences she lived. She didn't want her to carry so much blood in her hands. In the end, Kamilah knew it would destroy her somehow. Either because Amy wouldn't be able to live with that guilt, or because she'd lose her to darkness forever.
"Finally," her heartbeats felt more stable once her eyes spotted the familiar streets of New York.
Carrying Amy in her arms, she rushed inside Raines Corporation building. Exposure to the sunlight could be lethal at that stage.
"Kamilah," Adrian was waiting for her in the lobby, "what happened?"
"No time for explanations. Is the basement ready?"
Adrian confirmed and she followed her way, placing her wife inside the sarcophagus. Before closing it, she placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Is she..."
"Yes. We had an accident and I had to Turn her."
At the conference room, Kamilah told her best friend all the details. Adrian could barely believe what he was hearing.
"We need to find her body and destroy it permanently," he suggested. "It's probably what still links her to Amy."
"But... where could it be?" She asked.
"You said her strange behavior started after Greece, right?"
Kamilah replied with a nod. Her mind was far away, lost in thoughts and concerns.
"We need further investigation. I'll call the others."
In only a few minutes, Lily and Jax arrived, even if it was morning. Adrian sent a car to pick them up. The three of them gathered in front of a computer and books, trying to obtain any information about The First Vampire's past. Anything that could lead them to her body.
They still had three hours before Amy woke up. So Kamilah went outside, seeking for some relaxation. Then, she walked to Lysimachus apartment. Such an important subject should be discussed in person and privately.
Lysimachus
He only had time for a nap before Katherine actually woke up and started getting dressed to leave. She told him she was going to Adrian's company for further inspection of his research. For some reason, Lysimachus didn't really believe it. As soon as the Nighthunter left, he would monitor her steps through her cell phone's GPS.
How did they become like this? Since his arrival in New Orleans, they became good business partners. After a while, he met Katherine enough to know the pain she carried made her emotionally numb. She was lonely, unable to develop a friendship or romantic feelings for anyone. Yet, between jobs and celebrations they'd often hook up, having some close moments where she'd soften and show a bit of her true self. Lysimachus could never imagine they'd end up in this twisted betrayal game.
The bell ringing interrupted his thoughts. His sister was the last person he expected to see at the moment. She looked extremely tired and worried.
"Kamilah," he said, surprised. "I thought you were at Amy's hometown to see her father."
"Change of plans. Amy died. In my arms and... I had to Turn her."
His sister told him everything, from Amy's strange behavior to her suspicions that the First Vampire could be behind the whole situation, controlling Amy's mind, causing her father's heart attack and creating visions.
"This is intriguing. And scary."
"Adrian thinks it'll only stop if we destroy the First Vampire's body."
Lysimachus had absolutely no idea of where her body could be, or if it even existed after such a long time. If he wasn't in that situation with Katherine, it'd be a good time to pay Ivy a visit. She could certainly help, in trade of some ghosts to eat.
"Oh great, so we have another vampire in the world?" Katherine appeared in the living room. "Really, your population is getting out of control..."
"Not now, mortal," Kamilah's eyes went red instantly. "What is she doing here?"
"She was about to leave. Wasn't she?"
Lysimachus gave her a look indicating the subject was private between them.
"I stay," Katherine insisted. "Everything about the First Vampire is my concern too."
"Katherine, please."
She rolled her eyes and left. He turned his attention back to Kamilah, who was frowning at him.
"You need to stop bringing women to this place. We're no longer in Egypt, where you used to throw your little feasts."
He felt some embarrassment at that memory of his youth.
"I'm sorry, okay? She's only here because I needed to find out about her employee."
"And?"
"They're coming to New York, I'm waiting for details."
Noticing how disturbed his twin sister seemed, Lysimachus went to the kitchen and prepared them some breakfast. After eating in silence, he followed Kamilah to Raines Corporation, where the entire group was reunited.
Alone, he decided to check if Katherine was really in the laboratory, monitoring the research. She wasn't anywhere to be seen, not even in the safest area, where the samples of the Tree Of Eternal Life's blood were being kept.
"I knew it," Lysimachus thought. Before he could detect her location on his cell phone, he found himself drawn to the samples.
Everyone who drank from the Tree would obtain the powers of a God. He wondered how that would feel like. Almost hypnotized by the intense red color, he could see a blurred image forming inside it. There was a beautiful black haired woman, Gaius in a soldier armor and...
"Boo."
Scared, Lysimachus turned around to face Priya.
"Priya!" He angered. "What the hell are you doing? You're not supposed to be here!"
"And neither was you, considering you've backstabbed everyone," she said, with her usual annoying grin. "So I followed you, to make sure you won't do anything stupid."
"Right, because you're so full of good intentions. Aren't you?"
"Not at all, babe. But I'm not willing to risk my ass because of two stupid Nighthunters."
He sighed, trying to remain patient. He wouldn't play her game. She wanted to push him until he lost control. For his luck, he was the twin born with about 90% of the patience stock. Kamilah in his place would have stabbed her already.
"I'm sending her away, okay?" Lysimachus assured. "And she'll have her memories erased, is it okay for you?"
"No," Priya answered. "I still don't trust you. I want you out of the Council's business. Completely."
"Why are you working so hard to destroy me? Are you forgetting I saved your life, just one year ago? If it wasn't for my blood, you'd be long dead."
"And then you've proved to be a traitor."
Lysimachus hadn't forgotten that one moment where Priya opened up to him. At some point, he was even convinced she trusted and had feelings for him. If that was the case, in her mind he had violated that trust and he'd never obtain forgiveness coming from her.
She left him alone at the laboratory and he went to meet the others at Adrian's office. Amy should be waking up soon.
Amy
Darkness. Darkness was the only thing Amy was able to see when she opened her eyes. The air around her was heavy, suffocating. She tried to move, only to find out she was trapped.
"What the hell?" She thought. "Am I... Am I dead?"
She tried to remember what happened. The last memory she had was an intense pain in her head inside the hospital's bathroom.
The simple act of thinking felt different. The colors of every memory were more vivid, more real, as if she was reliving the moment.
"The accident," she remembered. That thought lead to another. The vampire woman standing in the middle of the road.
Adrenaline started pumping inside her veins and she could feel it. She could hear the blood flowing inside her. She could listen to the quick heartbeats inside her chest.
"Whoa, what..."
A sudden hunger stole all her focus. It was different from everything she ever felt before. She didn't desire food. She desired something else. While she tried to figure out, two sharp, pointy teeth descended from her gums, poking her lower lip.
"Am I a... vampire?"
Before she could voice it aloud, a light appeared above her. Her eyes were so sensible she could barely keep them open. She sat down, inhaling deeply as much air as possible.
"Amy?" She heard a familiar voice. "It's me."
When her vision adjusted to the environment, she could see Kamilah, standing right beside her. She was in the chamber at Raines Corporation. Inside the same sarcophagus Lily was placed when she was Turned.
"Are you okay?" Kamilah asked, her hand softly caressing her cheek.
Amy opened a smile and leaned forward, pressing her forehead on her wife's.
"Yes! I'm more than okay. I feel amazing."
They shared a long and desperate kiss, before Kamilah could help her to stand up.
"God, I was worried about you. That she would take you from me."
"Who, Kamilah?"
"The Fir..." before she could finish, they were interrupted by the rest of the gang arriving to check on Amy. All of them were there. Lily, Adrian, Jax and Lysimachus. Amy couldn't prevent emotional tears from falling.
"Hey, guys," she laughed it off. "It seems like I'm one of you now."
Lily immediately advanced in her direction, pulling her to the tightest of the hugs.
"Amy, you know what it means right?" She started crying too. "We're going to be best friends forever, since none of us is dying anymore!"
"Yes, Lil. I can't wait for us to race together, jumping through the buildings' rooftops."
"The loser is doing that vlog at Priya's club. On Wednesdays, when they have that... peculiar night."
Kamilah cleared her throat and frowned at Lily.
"I was joking."
The others all approached to greet Amy too. Jax promised to teach her some badass moves using a sword. Adrian assured she'd be accepted in any clan she wanted to be part of. Lysimachus teased her about how she'd have to put up with his sister for eternity.
After such an emotional moment, her hunger had returned and was stronger than ever. Kamilah conducted her to an empty room, where a female volunteer was already waiting for her.
"Can't I just drink from a blood bag?" Amy asked, noticing how tense the woman looked. "I'm afraid to hurt her."
"Don't worry," Kamilah touched her arm, trying to encourage her, "I'm here to assist you. In case you find difficult to stop."
Amy nodded and approached the young mortal. Kamilah stood right behind her, brushing off the hair from the woman's shoulder and exposing her neck.
"First, you must learn to find her vein. One wrong bite and it may be lethal."
"You're not helping."
"I'm sorry but the sooner you learn it, better are the chances it won't be happening."
The older vampire guided her hand through the skin of the volunteer's neck, finding the right spot to bite. Nervously, the Amy leaned forward approaching her mouth from her target. That close contact, where she could hear, smell and feel the fresh blood inside the mortal's veins was enough to trigger her instincts. Her eyes instantly turned red and her fangs appeared. She applied a deep and strong bite, making the woman wince in pain.
"This is fine," Kamilah tapped her shoulder. "Remember, it's your first time."
As the blood came in contact with her tongue, Amy could barely listen to her instructions anymore. She wanted to feed. Satiate that infinite hunger inside her. Before, she could never imagine blood could taste so good.
"Amy, stop!"
She ignored Kamilah orders.
"I said stop!"
Amy looked at her wife and hissed. She desired blood more than anything. She was about to attack her prey again, when Kamilah pinned her against the wall.
"Stop!" She ordered, gazing deeply into her eyes.
She finally returned to her senses, noticing the female volunteer looked pale and on the edge of passing out.
"Oh my god," Amy said. "What have I done? Is she..."
Kamilah healed the woman's neck and called Adrian to help to carry her to a safe location. Amy sat down on a chair, feeling a terrible frustration.
"First day as a vampire and I already messed up."
"You didn't," Kamilah assured her. "It happened to all of us. This is why you must learn how to control your hunger and your instincts."
"I feel like a monster. I don't want to hurt innocent people."
"You're not a monster, Amy. I promise you. Let's go, I'm going to Brand you before we go home."
Amy followed her, wondering if she'd be able to adjust to that life.
Kamilah
"Yes," Kamilah spoke on the phone, "she woke up and she's alright. Now, it's important she learns to live accordingly to her new conditions."
She still couldn't understand how on Earth Amy's mother learned she was a vampire. Yet, it was a subject she'd rather to bring up when they met again in person. A conversation she would try to avoid as much as possible.
Amy was still upset about her early incident with the volunteer. After getting Branded, they returned home, where she took a shower and went to bed. Kamilah drummed her fingers on the desk, thinking of a manner to cheer her up. An idea came to her mind.
She quickly called her assistant, ordering something special. Then, she left the package on the bed, close to her sleeping wife.
Kamilah kissed her forehead and returned to her home office. She cancelled and rescheduled some obligations at her company. It'd take a few days until Amy was ready to return to her daily routine and she'd be there for her.
A few hours later, Amy appeared on her office's door wearing a new black dress and some accessories. Kamilah opened up a smile.
"So, did you like it?" She asked. "I thought it'd fit your new self."
"I loved it," Amy finally smiled back. "Thank you so much."
Kamilah wrapped her in an affectionate embrace. The thought that another minute and she could've lost Amy forever wouldn't leave her mind. She couldn't imagine living in a world without her.
"Oh. There's one more thing."
She retrieved something from a secret drawer on her desk. A velvet box containing a beautiful bracelet.
"Our anniversary," Amy tapped her own forehead. "I even forgot about it."
"It's okay," Kamilah wore the bracelet around her wrist, then pulled her for a kiss. "I remembered for both of us."
"Yes, in the end you gave me what I wanted the most."
Amy deepened the kiss, her hands traveling through Kamilah's body, eager to explore her new vampire senses. Suddenly, she stopped.
"What's wrong?" Kamilah asked.
"I feel hungry again," she spoke in a sad tone.
"I'm going to get you a blood bag. Then, we have a long night ahead of us."
Training Amy for the vampire life was a priority, but first, the girl need to clear her head a little bit. Being married for one year, she was familiar to all the fancy restaurants in New York, so Kamilah decided to be creative.
"Ice cream buffet?!" Amy asked when they arrived.
"You always say ice cream can heal anything. I thought it could be helpful to the moment."
The happiness had finally returned to her wife's face. Especially when she found out Kamilah had reserved the place exclusively for them for a couple of hours.
"Have I told how much I love you tonight?"
Kamilah had a hard time to distinguish those words, coming out from a mouth that was devouring an enormous bowl of ice cream and speaking simultaneously.
"No. Actually, I haven't hear those words since I arrived from Paris."
"Sorry! I love you," Amy pressed a sweet and cold kiss on her lips, "very very much."
"I love you too," Kamilah cleared the corners of her wife's mouth.
After the fun, it was time for the training. Kamilah was known for being a rigid teacher to the newly Turned vampires. With Amy, she couldn't act different. But she needed to be strong enough to resist her charms.
She took Amy to a nearby dark alley, then crossed her arms and looked at her.
"What?" Amy looked around confused on why they stopped.
"You're a vampire now, Amy. You can't move around like a human anymore. Your presence must be silent, undetected."
"Okay. And how do I do that?"
"Here, watch me," Kamilah blend in the shadows, making sure Amy could no longer detect her presence. Then, re-appeared right behind her, making her jump in fear. "Like this."
"R-Right... I'll try," Amy walked to the shadows attempting to copy her moves.
Kamilah patiently waited and watched. Her first few tries were a complete failure, but she wouldn't give up. It was time to offer her some help.
"Amy?" She appeared behind her wife again.
"Can you not do this, please?"
"Look how I slow down my heartbeats, to the point they almost stop."
She pulled Amy close to her body, wrapping her arms tightly around her.
"Hey, this way I can't focus, you know?" Amy joked.
"I know," Kamilah caressed her hair. "This is why I'm doing it, to improve the efficiency of your training."
Amy slapped her arm playfully and they both laughed, before returning to their goal. With was easier once the girl relaxed a bit. She was slowly mastering how to control her breathing and heartbeats. Kamilah proposed one last challenge.
"I dare you to make it home, completely hidden in the shadows. If I detect you, one single time, you lose."
Amy hesitated for a moment, then she bit her lower lip.
"Okay, but... if I win, I want my prize."
"Impress me," Kamilah smiled, before disappearing in the shadows herself.
She waited a few minutes to start moving and give Amy a headstart. Sometimes, making her happy was better than resisting her charms. She only needed to make sure she'd never discover this weakness.
Amy
After spending most of the night exploring her new powers and senses, Amy felt a lot better. Everything felt different, even the smallest thing, such as taking a breath were different, and great. Adrenaline was pumping high inside her body and she didn't want that night to end.
"And now..." she simulated a clumsy karate move, "combat training?"
"Not yet," Kamilah cocked her head confused by what she was doing. "We have other priorities first."
"Come on, with Lily you skipped straight to the fun part."
"It was different. The situation required she learned how to protect herself. We're not in imminent danger right now, are we?"
If Amy couldn't test her new super strength yet, there was another thing she was very curious to try. She bit her lower lip mischievously and went to the bedroom.
Using the newly acquired techniques, she slowed down her heartbeats and breathing, to make her presence impossible to be noticed. She caught Kamilah by surprise in the living room, handcuffing her hands.
"You are in danger, Kamilah Sayeed," she whispered in her ear.
"You're a fast learner," Kamilah said. "Only because you've made me proud, I'll allow it. This one time."
"Move. To the bed, right now!"
The female vampire raised an eyebrow at her, before following her command. Amy straddled her, placing her hands above her head and removing every layer of clothing that separated her from touching Kamilah's skin.
Everything felt different now, her wife's perfect skin felt soft as silk. She could feel a warmness, an electricity being emanated from her body as she never felt before. Her kisses sent her head spiraling.
Amy took a moment to breath.
"Everything alright?" Kamilah wanted to know.
"I never thought it could become so intense and intimate."
"Your first time as a vampire can be quite overwhelming. Maybe we should take things slowly."
"No... I want this. So badly."
As Amy removed her own clothes, she didn't notice when Kamilah broke free from the cuffs, switching positions with her.
"How about..." her nails dragged on the side of Amy's body, making her shiver, "I show you how it feels first?"
Amy agreed. Being in charge, she was barely able to keep control of herself.
"I'm going to kiss and touch you everywhere."
Kamilah started from her mouth, kissing her possessively, while her hand massaged Amy's breasts.
The girl let out a moan.
"Shhhh," Kamilah bit her lower lip as punishment. "Who said you were allowed make a sound, huh?"
Amy grinned at the pleasure that game brought to the moment. She closed her eyes, enjoying as Kamilah's mouth started working on her neck, while her hands traveled to her stomach and hips.
The tips of her fangs tickling on the girl's sensitive skin made her giggle. Kamilah pinched the skin of her hips.
Before proceeding, she stopped and looked at her.
"Are you okay?"
Amy nodded in response.
Kamilah's mouth went even lower on her body, stopping at her most sensitive spot, while her hands massaged her tights.
The sensation was like nothing ever felt before. She felt her whole body was on fire. She squirmed and thrashed under Kamilah's body, lost in complete ecstasy. In only a couple of minutes, she was shivering and panting.
"Okay," Kamilah stopped and embraced her, "I think we've had enough for tonight."
Amy wasn't willing to stop yet. Not when she had experienced one of the best sensations the vampire life could provide.
"Not yet," her eyes went red in desire and she placed herself on top of Kamilah's body.
As she kissed her lips and their tongues danced together feverishly, something new happened inside her brain. She started seeing flashes of Kamilah's life. In Egypt, in Japan, as a soldier during the war...
"Can I try something?" She asked Kamilah.
"Sure."
Focusing on that new found skill, Amy connected her mind to hers again. Instead of focusing on old memories, she chose to stay in the moment. Seeing it through Kamilah's eyes.
"What is happening?" Kamilah felt confused. "My mind seems strange."
"Shhhh," Amy placed her index fingers on her lips. "Who said you were allowed make a sound, huh?"
With their legs entwined, she started rocking her hips against hers, feeling her own pleasure and her wife's too. She adjusted the pressure and speed, accordingly to the sensations it was giving Kamilah.
When they both reached ecstasy at the same time, the feeling was doubled. And amazing.
"Amy..." Kamilah said, grinning and between pants, "I don't know what you've done but... we should do it more often."
"Only testing my psychic powers," Amy told. "But I agree."
In the next morning, Amy was in a deep sleep. Having a strange dream she couldn't quite remember. She was awaken by Kamilah's shouting.
"Amy," she yelled. "We forgot to close the curtains! Oh my god, are you alright?"
The girl rubbed her eyes, feeling the last rays of sun on her skin, before Kamilah closed the curtains. It didn't hurt. It didn't burn. It felt... surprisingly good.
She got up from the bed and approached the window.
"What are you doing?!" Kamilah asked, when she opened the curtains again. "You can't..."
"Look," Amy showed the sunlight on her skin. "Apparently I can."
Lysimachus
Two days had passed. Luckily, Lysimachus was able to intercept Katherine's cell phone and get the text from her employee with the address and time they'd meet. The Nighthunter didn't even notice. Kamilah's friend, Serafine, would arrive in the following day to debrief her. Everything was going according to the plan.
"Are you going out?" She asked, as he was getting dressed for the meeting.
"Yes, a dinner with one of my sister's clients," he lied. "She asked me to attend it in her place."
Katherine didn't question or got suspicious, she only shrugged and turned her attention back to her cell phone screen. As Lysimachus entered his car, he used an Anonymous number to text her, pretending to be her employee.
"An emergency came up. Meeting is cancelled. I'll text you when I reschedule for another date."
"Okay."
He smiled in satisfaction with her answer.
The address took him to a fancy restaurant. Lysimachus looked around, trying to spot any faces that could be the mysterious stranger Katherine was supposed to meet.
"Sir?" Noticing he seemed lost, a hostess came to help him. "Are you waiting for someone?"
"Uh, I have a meeting scheduled to 11 PM in one of your VIP rooms."
"Mr. Balthazar?"
He confirmed, unsure. She checked the reservation list.
"It's in name of..."
"Katherine," he interrupted, trying to not raise any suspicions. "We work together. She couldn't come and sent me in her place."
The hostess agreed and conducted him to one of the VIP rooms in the back. A man was already sat on the table, accompanied by two bodyguards. Balthazar had a strange appearance, he was old, pale and wore an eyepatch. An sinister energy emanated from him.
"Good night, Mr. Balthazar," Lysimachus greeted.
"Who are you?" The man quickly stood up. The bodyguards took a step forward. "You don't look like Katherine to me."
"We work together. She couldn't make it and ask me to attend the meeting in her place."
The man stared at him in silence for a moment.
"Lysimachus Sayeed," he extended his hand.
Balthazar slapped it away.
"A vampire. Kill him, now."
Lysimachus barely had any time to deflect the bolts the guards shoot at him. Using his advanced speed he moved across the room and attacked both of the human guards, knocking them down.
"What the hell was that? Is it how you treat all your guests?
"Only the ones with fangs," Balthazar snarled.
Lysimachus tried to remember where he had heard that name before. It seemed surprisingly familiar.
"I remember now," he smirked. "Erik Balthazar, head of the Order Of Dawn. Why am I not surprised?"
"And you... the vampire who used to hunt his own kind. I still remember the day you attempted to join my forces."
"That happened almost a hundred years ago."
Lysimachus was surprised by Balthazar's eye turning red and fangs descending from his mouth. Like him, he was also a vampire.
"It seems like we have more in common then you thought, huh?!" The old vampire asked. "I must confess I even respected you. Traveling the world, developing high-technology weapons, targeting Gaius... but deep down I knew you were like each one of them!"
"Indeed," Lysimachus decided to play his game. "Life as a vampire didn't seem so bad once I was reunited with my sister. I spent my whole life seeking revenge because I believed Gaius had killed her. Now, why don't we talk about your motivations?"
"My motivations? Sit down here, boy. Let me tell you a story."
Balthazar joined him at the table, ordering drinks for them both. Lysimachus refused to drink, unable to tell if it was poisoned or not.
"You've been in the island of Mydea, I saw you among the group on the security footage. What you don't know is what happened right there, before you were even born."
"How can you know?"
"I was there," the man revealed. "You can call me Xenocrates, the First Son."
The name sent shivers through Lysimachus' entire body. So far, all he knew about the First Vampire's descendants were rumors. He had never met any, other than Gaius.
"So you've met her. The First Vampire?"
"This is why I'm here. Stupid Adrian Raines has no idea of what he's in possession! You all have no idea of what is in that tree!"
His phone started beeping in a strange manner. Xenocrates stared at the screen in shock.
"It can't be..." he repeated many times. "It can't be!"
Smashing the phone in his own hands, he advanced in Lysimachus direction. Though he was weakened, he wasn't much less powerful than Gaius.
"You have no idea of what you've done!" Xenocrates shoved him violently against the wall. "Now you've woken the Beast, you'll deal with the consequences!"
His hand went through Lysimachus chest, he could feel it touching his heart.
"Wait..." he tried to reason with him. "What... are you... talking about?"
He didn't answer. His eyes were a mix of pure anger and also fear. Lysimachus closed his eyes, accepting his fate.
"I'm sorry, sister," was his last thought, remembering Kamilah. After his death, she would have no idea who they'd be dealing with. Would they be able to defeat the First Son, like they defeated Gaius?
Xenocrates stopped. Lysimachus opened his eyes in time to see his head falling from his neck, converting into ashes as the rest of his body. Behind him, Priya played with the daggers he gifted her during their training
"Priya..." he fell on his knees, holding his wounded chest, "what... are you..."
"You were acting all mysterious the other day, so I followed you."
This time he was actually glad she did.
"You shouldn't have trained me so well with daggers," she laughed to herself. "Who was this old rag anyways?"
"The First Son."
"Oh."
She kneeled right beside him, offering him a small vial containing human blood. He drank it in one sip, which was enough to heal the wound.
"Thank you," he told.
"Well," Priya stood up, walking headed to the door. "Now we're even."
